Claiming My Best Friend's Brother

00 PROLOGUE

Prologue :-

Niyati's POV

I've known the Raizadas my whole life.

They live just three houses down. Their dog once bit my cousin. Their lights are always on during Diwali.

And Diya? She's been my best friend since we were five. We walk to school together, share snacks, and rant about homework on late-night calls.

But I never really saw her brother...

Until now.

Ansh Raizada.

Twenty-one. A final-year architecture student.

Brooding, quiet, sharp-jawed, and somehow always surrounded by that mysterious "don't-mess-with-me" energy.

The kind of guy who makes even silence feel loud.

And me?

Niyati Sharma.

Eighteenth. Your average girl-next-door. Maybe a little dramatic. Definitely daydreamy.

I'm not supposed to be staring at my best friend's older brother like he's the main character in my favorite book.

But here I am, replaying the way he set his hair into a dashing style this morning like it was a damn movie scene.

I tell myself it's just a harmless crush. A teenage thing.

But when he passed me on his way to his bike and said, "Move, shortie," with a crooked smirk...

Yeah. That was it.

My brain? Fried.

My heart? Gone.

It's not supposed to mean anything.

He's three years older. He probably still sees me as the kid who once spilled Frooti on his sketchbook.

But every glance, every smirk, every "hey" from him-it all hits different now.

I'm not saying I'm in love.

I'm just saying...

I might be in trouble.

### Niyati Sharma

16 years old.

Bubbly. Dreamy. Slightly clumsy, totally chaotic, and a hopeless romantic.

Loves books, chai, romantic playlists, and dancing in her room at 2 AM.

Secretly obsessed with someone she shouldn't be obsessed with.

The sunshine in everyone's life - except maybe her own heart.

### Ansh Raizada

21 years old.

Diya's elder brother. Studying Architecture.

Tall, intense, annoyingly perfect jawline. Speaks less, smirks more.

Has a soft spot for silence, music, and late-night sketching.

Unintentionally charming - and unfortunately, completely off-limits.

### ?? Diya Raizada

18 years old.

Niyati's best friend and partner-in-crime.

Smart, stylish, and emotionally mature.

Absolutely clueless that her best friend is falling for her older brother.

The glue that keeps friendships from falling apart.

### Mr. Sharma & Mrs. Sharma

Niyati's overprotective-yet-sweet parents.

Always trying to keep her "focused on school," but Niyati has other things on her mind ??

### Mr. Raizada & Mrs. Raizada

Cool, chill, and very fond of Niyati.

Also secretly shipping Ansh with someone - they just don't know it might be the girl next door.